Thursday, 23 April 2020

Mick Channon

Former
Southampton F.C. and England footballer Michael Roger Channon
is now one of racing’s most respected trainers.

While
he’s yet to
produce a winner of one of the British Classic Races, he won his
first Irish Classic in 2012 with Samitar in the 1,000 Guineas. Other
career highlights include wins in the Cheveley Park Stakes, the
Dewhurst Stakes, the Falmouth Stakes, and the St James’s Palace
Stakes.

He
has regularly had over 100 wins in a season, with his best to date in
2003 where he saddled 144 winners and took home prize money over
£2million.

Born
in Orcheston, Wiltshire Channon made his footballing debut age 17 for
Southampton in 1966. While he played for Newcastle United, Manchester
City and Norwich during his career, he was best known for his time at
Southampton who he won the F.A. Cup with in 1976. In 1972 he was
called up to the England national team by Alf Ramsey and went on the
chalk up 46 caps in his international career.

After
retiring from football in 1986, long time race enthusiast Channon
began working as an assistant trainer. In 1990 he obtained his
trainer licence and purchased West Ilsley Stables, Newbury whose
previous owner was Queen Elizabeth II. After starting out with around
10 horses, Channon’s operation has expanded to nearly 200 and his
yard welcomes some of the best racing talent in the country. His old
footballing pals including Sir Alex Ferguson, Kevin Keegan, Alan Ball
and Chris Cattlin all have horses at his stables.